Knitting machine pattern control mechanism



April 27, 1937. H. H. HOLMES 2,078,571

KNITTING MACHINE PATTERN CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Oct. 31, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l @MM JZMflMvM April 27, 1937.

H. .H. HOLMES KNITTING MACHINE PATTERN CONTROL MECHANISM s Sheets-Sheet? Filed Oct. 51, 1955 .2 2102772 0)? M W/W Iii-i 18 M mmm p 27, 37- H. H. HOLMES 2,078,571

, KNITTING MACHINES PATTERN CONTROL MECHANISM 7 Filed Oct: 31, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 27, 1937 units STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE PATTERN CONTROL MECHANISM Pennsylvania Application October 31, 1935, Serial No. 47,681 In Great Britain November 2, 1934 20 Claims.

This invention consists in improvements in or relating to pattern control mechanism for knitting machines and to knitting machines embodying such mechanism.

Theinvention is applied to a pattern control mechanism of the type comprising in combination a rotatable pattern cylinder, wheel or equivalent" member having at its surface a series of projections, means to cause the projections selectively to control the patterning, and also to rack the cylinder, wheel or equivalent member step by step around its axis so that upon each such racking movement a difierent projection or series of projections will be brought into operation for selective control of the pattern, preferably by selective control of needle operation.

Hereinafter pattern control mechanism of the type specified is to be understood as meaning a mechanism of the type given immediately above;

20 and for brevity a pattern cylinder, wheel or equivalent member will be referred to hereinafter by the term cylinder which is to be understood to include also a wheel or any other equivalently operating member.

25 Generally in patterning mechanism of this type projections are provided on removable bits which are insertable into grooves or tricks afforded in the outer surface of the cylinder and parallel with or radial from the axis of rotation ofthe latter,

30 and the cylinder axis is conveniently arranged parallel with the axis of the knitting machine. An example of one such mechanism is described in the specification of prior British Letters Patent No. 267,376.

The present invention comprises in or for combination with a circular knitting machine, pattern control mechanism of the kind specified having driving means for the cylinder combined with a selective control for the driving means whereby 4, the cylinder is driven in either one of two opposite directions of rotation in accordance with the action of the selective control. The purpose of this combination is to enable the full pattern effect of the cylinder to be amplified as compared 45 with the hitherto known forms of such pattern mechanism in which the cylinder is intermittently rotated in one direction only.

Conveniently, an annular rack is provided on or is operatively connected to the cylinder and two 50 oppositely acting driving pawls are employed for selectively engaging the said rack one at a time and are combined with an adjustable bluff enabling either one or both of said pawls to be taken out of operation at will. For example, the pawls 55 may be arranged to engage the rack on both sides of a plane containing the axis of rotation of the cylinder and a single reciprocating element is operatively connected with both pawls so that, but for the bluff above mentioned, both pawls would tend to operate simultaneously to drive the 5 cylinder in opposite directions.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one preferred example will now be described in detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in Which:- 19

Figure 1 is a plan of the pattern control mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention and is a section on the line ll of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure '2 is an elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1, the needle cylinder having been removed for the sake of clearness;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line ll of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The pattern cylinder 10 is in the form of a trick wheel similar in general to that described in the aforesaid prior British Patent No. 267,876 and in the tricks of the wheel replaceable bits I I are inserted having pattern butts such as I2 arranged at varying heights in accordance with the pattern layout. The pattern cylinder operates in conjunction with needle jacks 13, the lower ends of which are resilient or are otherwise resiliently controlled normally to be spaced outwardly from the bottoms of the tricks in the needle cylinder 14 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. Each jack has an associated presser member [5 hinged at "5 by means of a spring band encircling all the pressers and the latter are furnished with butts l! at varying heights, and the pressers are inserted in the tricks I8 of the needle cylinder with the heights of their butts H disposed in accord- .ance with a pre-arranged pattern layout. The butts I2 control the presser members I5 through the medium of selecting cams l9, one for each height of butt, and all these cams are pivotally mounted on a post 20 secured in a bracket 2! by means of which the patterning mechanism as a whole is mounted on a frame member 22 of the machine.

The invention in the form now being described is shown as applied to a knitting machine having a fixed cylinder and a rotating cam box; and the part 22 comp-rises a portion of the machine which rotates with the cam box 23.

Rotating also in company with the cam box is 7 an arcuate plunger or slide 26 which projects into the path of a vertically adjustable lift plate or racking cam 21 which is non-rotatably mounted in the machine. The lift plate 2'! is under the control of a pattern chain or other pattern control device as is well understood whereby it can'be raised and lowered automatically into or out from a position to engage the end of the slide 26 during which rotation of the cam box and movement of the slide serves to actuate a racking pawl 28 which is pivotally mounted at 29 to the slide 26. A spring 30 anchored at 3! to the tail end of the pawl 28 and at the other end at 32 to a fixed part of the machine serves always tourge the pawl in a direction opposite to its working stroke. A ring of teeth is provided on the drum Ill, constituted by butts 33 provided one at the bottom end of-each bit It.

All the parts so far described are substantially similar to or have their counterpart in the mechanism illustrated and described in the aforementioned prior British Patent No. 267,876 and for a fuller understanding of the arrangement and co-operation of the several parts reference may be made to the said prior specification.

There may be more than one lift plate such as 2? in the machine if desired and there may be more than one cylinder such as It and the mechanism associated with it, but the number of lift plates is not determined, of necessity, by the number of cylinders such as It] but by the number of times it is desired to rack any individual pattern cylinder during a single revolution thereof around the axis of the knitting machine.

In addition to the parts so far described there is a second racking pawl 34 which is arranged to engage the rack teeth 33 at a position spaced at approximately a right angle from the position of the pawl 28. The drum is carried on an axle pin 35 supported in the bracket 2!. The second racking pawl 34 is pivotally connected at 36 to one arm of a bellcrank lever 31. The latter is pivotally mounted on a pin 38 secured to the bracket 2| and the other arm 39 of the bellcrank lever is so positioned that its outer end lies in the path of a pin 40 projecting upwardly from the arcuate plunger 26. A spring 4i anchored at one end to the boss of the bellcrank lever 31 and at its other end to a fixed part of the bracket 2| serves normally to tend to turn the bellcrank in a direction opposite from that in which it will be turned by the plunger 26 when the latter is moved inwardly by the lift plate 21. Another spring 42 anchored at one end to the pawl 34 and at the opposite end to the arm 39 tends always to draw the pawl 34 towards the arm 39 about the axis of the pivot 36.

It will be understood from the construction described and particularly by reference to Figures 1 and 3 that when the arcuate plunger 26 is forced inwardly by engagement with the lift plate 27 the nose of pawl 28 will tend to engage the rack teeth 33 to turn the pattern drum ID in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1 and 3; whereas the same movement of the plunger 26 will, by its engagement with arm 39, swing the pawl 34 towards the rack teeth 33 so as to tend to turn the drum ID in the opposite or clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1 to 3.

As it is naturally impossible to permit both pawls to act simultaneously their action is selectively controlled by means of a blufi plate 43 shown most clearly in Figure 3. The plate 43 is rotatable about the lower end of pin 35 and has two cam rises 44 and 45 respectively with a lower cam portion 43 situated between them. When the plate 43 is in the position illustrated in Figure 1 and in full-lines in Figure 3 the low portion 45 is beneath the nose of the pawl 28 and the rise or high portion 45 is in engagement with the pawl 34. Thus on each inward stroke of the arcuate plunger the pawl 28 is moved towards the left in Figures 1 and 3 and during this movement is in engagement with a tooth 33 and the cylinder If! is thus racked in an anticlockwise direction round one step at each actuation of the plunger. At the same time the nose of pawl 34 moves around in contact with the high part 45 of the bluff plate and is thus held free from engagement with the teeth 33 and remains inoperative. Itwillbe understood that each inward movement of the arcuate plunger serves to turn the bellcra'nk 31 in a clockwise direction (Viewed in Figures 1 and 4) about the axis of pin 38 and during this movement the pawl 34 and arm 39 will be opened apart against the pull of spring 42.

When the bluff plate 43 is turned to the intermediate chain-line position in Figure 3 the two rises 44 and 45 will be in engagement respectively with the noses of pawls 28 and 34 and both pawls will thus be held from engagement with teeth 33. Thus, no racking will occur on movement of the plunger 26.

On the other hand, when the bluff plate 43 is turned to the extreme left-hand position shown in Figure 3 the rise 44 is beneath the nose of pawl 28 thus holding the latter out from engagement with teeth 33 and in this position the low portion 46 is beneath the pawl 34 thus permitting the nose of that pawl to engage with teeth 33.

The coiled spring 4? anchored at one end to a boss 48 secured in part 22 of the machine has its other end anchored to a stud 49 on the bluff plate and the action of this spring is always to tend to turn the plate in an anticlockwise direction.

In order to control the angular position of the bluff plate a second lift plate 50 is employed which can be adjusted into three positions, namely:-

(a) Into a position to engage a pin projecting upwardly from the bluff plate 43;

(1)) Into a position at a lower height to engage a projecting nose or cam portion 52 of the bluff plate; or,

(c) Into a position still lower at which it engages neither the p-in 5! nor the nose 52.

The edge 53 of lift plate 50 which engages the parts of the bluff plate extends angularly beyond the cam portion of lift plate 2'! on both sides of the latter. Thus, when it is desired to allow pawl 28 to remain operative, lift plate 55 will be moved to its lowermost position so that each time the patterning mechanism passes lift plates 53 and 21 the latter will operate to rack the pattern drum I0 one stepin an anticlockwise direction. When the lift plate 5!) is moved to its intermediate position so as to engage the nose 52, the latter will be engaged before the lift plate 2'? engages pin 43 and will swing the bluff plate 43 to the other extreme position so as to bluif pawl 28 and to permit pawl 34 to be operative. Owing to the angular extent of the surface 53 the bluff plate 43 will be retained in this position during the racking action of lift plate 21 and the bluff plate will not be released until the racking is completed.

When lift plate 50 is raised to its uppermost position the edge 53 will engage with pin 5! and the bluff plate will be turned to and held in its intermediate position during the passage of pin 40 past the lift plate 21 thus bluffing both pawls 23 and 3 1 out of action. Consequently while the lift plate is in this position, during each passage of the pattern mechanism past the lift plates 21 and 53, the pattern cylinder l will not be racked round and will remain stationary on its axis.

' The lift plates 21 and 50 are under control of a pattern chain or equivalent means but as such means are well known in mechanism of this sort and the actuation of lift plates of the character required is well understood by persons having knowledge of knitting machinery, no further description of the control and movement of plates '27: and 56 will be needed.

It will be appreciated from the above description that the direction of rotation of the pattern cylinder ill on each passage past a pair of lift platessuch as 27 and 50 is automatically under control in accordance with the layout of the lifting dogs on the pattern chain or equivalent means. Thus, the cylinder may be given one or more complete revolutions or only a partial revolution in one direction before its rotation is reversed or arrested and in the same way the reversal of direction may be continued for any predetermined angular distance. As has been before stated, if it is desired to impart to the cylinder In more than one racking movement during each rotation around the axis of the machine additional pairs of bluff plates such as 2? and 55 Will be provided at such intervals around the axis of the machine as will be de termined by the number of such operations required and the angular relationship between them.

The machine described can obviously, without departure from the present invention, be modilied to apply the invention to a rotating cylinder machine. In such a case the needle cylinder and the lift plates 2! and 50 would rotate about the axis of the machine while the pattern wheel or all such Wheels as may be present remain stationary together with the cam box.

In any knitting machine whether it be a single or multi-feed machine there may be any desired number of pattern cylinders such as H) and the associated racking pawls and bluff plates and other elements of patterning mechanism as may be desired. In a multi-feed machine there will preferably be one such pattern mechanism for each feed.

I claim:

1. A circular knitting machine comprising in combination a needle cylinder, needles therein,

pattern control mechanism comprising a rotating element additional to the needle cylinder, driving means for said rotating element and a selective control for said driving means comprising together a member which is provided with annularly disposed teeth and which is operatively connected with said rotatable element, two oppositely acting driving pawls for selectively and alternatively engaging said teeth, means relatively rotatable with respect to the pawls about the axis of the cylinder for actuating said pawls, and means for rendering either one of said pawls inoperative at will.

2. A circular knitting machine according to claim 1 in which the means for rendering either one of the pawls inoperative at will comprises a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the rotatable pattern element to different angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with the pawls, in combination with an abutment adjustable in height between which and the cam plate there will be relative rotation about the axis of the knitting machine, the said cam plate having associated projecting parts situated at different radial distances and at diiferent heights for selective engagement by the abutment.

3. A circular knitting machine according to claim 1 in which the means for rendering either one of the pawls inoperative at will comprises a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the rotatable pattern element to different angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with the pawls, in combination with an abutment adjustable in height between which and the cam plate there will be relative rotation about the axis ofthe knitting machine, the said cam plate having associated projecting parts situated at different radial distances and at difierent heights for selective engagement by the abutment, and an arcuate slide which is operatively connected with the said pawls and which has a portion lying in the path of said abutment so as to be actuated thereby.

4. A circular knitting machine comprising in combination a needle cylinder, needles therein, pattern control means comprising a rotatable drum having pattern abutments thereon, means interposed between said abutments and the needles whereby the abutments control action of the needles, annularly disposed teeth secured to and rotatable with the said drum, a cam plate rotatable about the axis of the drum independently of the latter, projections on said cam plate situated at different heights and different radial distances thereon, abutment means which is adjustable in height and between which and the pattern drum there is relative rotation about the axis of the knitting machine, the path of said abutment means being such as to engage with one or the other of the projections on the cam plate, cam rises on said cam plate, oppositely acting pawls to engage the teeth that are secured to the drum and a sliding element also in the path of the abutment means to be moved endwise by engagement therewith, said sliding element being operatively connected to the pawls.

5. For a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, pattern control mechanism comprising a rotating element additional to the needle cylinder, driving means for said rotating element and a selective control for said driving means comprising together an annular toothed member operatively connected with said rotatable element, two oppositely acting driving pawls for selectively and alternatively engaging the teeth of said toothed member, means relatively rotatable with respect to said pawls about the axis of the cylinder for actuating said pawls, and means for rendering either one of said pawls inoperative at will.

6. For a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, pattern control mechanism according to claim 5 in which the means for rendering either one of the pawls inoperative at will comprises a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the rotatable pattern element to difierent angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by itsadjustment selectively with one pawl or the other or with both pawls.

'7. Fora circular'knitting machine having a needle cylinder, pattern control mechanism according to claimv 5 in which the means for rendering either one of the pawls inoperative at will comprises a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the rotatable pattern element to different angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with the pawls, in combination with an abutment adjustable in height between which and the cam plate there will be'relative' rotation aboutthe axis of the knitting machine, the'esaid cam plate having associated projecting parts situated at difierent radial distances and'at idifierent heights-for selective engagement by the abutment.

-8. For a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, pattern control mechanism according to claim 5 in which the meansfor rendering either one of the pawls inoperative at will comprises a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the rotatable pattern element to different angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with the pawls, in combination with an abutment adjustable in height between which and the cam plate there will be relative rotation about the axis of the knitting machine, the said cam platehaving associated projecting parts situated at different radial distances and at diiferent heights for selective engagement by theabutment, and an arcuate slide which is operatively connected with the said pawls and which has -a portion lying in the path of said abutment so as to be actuated thereby.

9. For a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, pattern control mechanism comprising in combination a rotatable drum having pattern abutments thereon, means interposed between-said abutments and the needles whereby the abutments control action of the needles, annulariy disposed teeth secured to and rotatable with the said drum, a cam plate rotatable about the axis of the drum independently of the latter, projections on said cam plate situated at different heights and different radial distances thereon, abutment means which is adjustable in height and between which and the pattern drum there is relative rotation about the axis of the knitting machine, the path of said abutment means being such as to engage with one or the other of the projections on the cam. plate, cam rises on said cam plate, oppositely acting pawls to engage the teeth that are secured to the drum and a sliding element also in the path of the abutment means to be moved endwise by engagement therewith, said sliding, element being operatively connecte to the pawls.

iii. A circular knitting machine comprising in combination a needle cylinder, needles therein, pattern control mechanism comprising a rotating drum additional to the needle cylinder and having surface projections, driving means for said drum which together with a selective control for said driving means comprises annular toothed means operatively connected with the drum combined with two oppositely acting driving pawls for selectively and alternatively engaging the teeth of said toothed element. and means for rendering either one of said pawls inoperative at will, said last mentioned means comprising a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the drum to difierent angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with one or the other of the pawls or with both pawls.

11. A circular knitting machine according to claim 10 in which the means for rendering either one of the pawls inoperative at will comprises a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the drum to different angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with the pawls, in combination with an abutment adjustable in height between which and the cam plate there will be relative rotation about the axis of the knitting machine, the said cam plate having associated projecting parts situated at different radial distances and at different heights for selective engagement by the abutment.

12. A circular knitting machine according to claim 10' in which the means for rendering either one of the pawls inoperative at will comprises a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the drum to different angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with the pawls, in combination with an abutment adjustable in height between which and the cam plate there will be relative rotation about the axis of the knitting machine, the said cam plate having associated projecting parts situated at different radial distances and at difierent heights for selective engagement by the abutment, and an arcuate slide which is operatively connected with the said pawls and which has a portion lying in the path of said abutment so as to be actuated thereby.

13. For a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, pattern control mechanism comprising a rotating drum additional to the needle cylinder, driving means for said drum and a selective control for said driving means, comprising together an annular toothed element operatively connected with said drum combined with two oppositely acting driving pawls for selectively and alternatively engaging the teeth of said toothed element, and means for rendering either one of said pawls inoperative at will, said last mentioned means comprising a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the drum to different angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with one or the other of the pawls or with both pawls.

14. For a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, pattern control mechanism according to claim 13, in which the means for rendering either one of the pawls inoperative at will comprises acam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the drum to diiferent angular positions and which has cam. rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with one pawl or the other or with both pawls.

15. For a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, pattern control mechanism according to claim 13 in which the means for rendering either one of the pawls inoperative at will comprises a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the drum to different angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with the pawls, in combination with an abutment adjustable in height between which and the cam plate there will be relative rotation about the axis of the knitting machine, the said cam plate having associated projecting parts situated at different radial distances and at different heights for selective engagement by the abutment.

16. For a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, pattern control mechanism according to claim 13 in which the means for rendering either one of the pawls inoperative at will comprises a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the drum to different angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with the pawls, in combination with an abutment adjustable in height between which and the cam plate there will be relative rotation about the axis of the knitting machine, the said cam plate having associated projecting parts situated at difierent radial distances and at different heights for selective engagement by the abutment, and an arcuate slide which is operatively connected with the said pawls and which has a portion lying in the path of said abutment so as to be actuated thereby.

1'7. A circular knitting machine comprising the combination of a needle cylinder, needles therein, pattern control mechanism comprising a rotating element additional to the needle cylinder, driving means for said rotating element and a selective control for said driving means comprising together a member which is provided with annularly disposed teeth and which is operatively connected with said rotatable element, two oppositely acting driving pawls for selectively, and alternatively engaging said teeth, means relatively rotatable with respect to the pawls about the axis of the cylinder for actuating said pawls, and means for rendering selectively either one or both said driving pawls inoperative when desired.

18. A circular knitting machine comprising in combination a needle cylinder, needles therein, pattern control mechanism comprising a rotating element additional to the needle cylinder, driving means for said rotating element and a selective control for said driving means comprising together a member which is provided with annularly disposed teeth and which is operatively connected with said rotatable element, two oppositely acting driving pawls for selectively and alternatively engaging said teeth, means relatively rotatable with respect to the pawls about the axis of the cylinder for actuating said pawls, and means for rendering either one of said pawls inoperative at will, said means comprising a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the rotatable patterning element to dilierent angular positions and which has cam rises spaced around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with one pawl or the other or with both pawls.

19. For a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, pattern control mechanism comprising a rotating element addition to the needle cylinder, driving means for said rotating element and a selective control for said driving means comprising together an annular toothed member operatively connected with said rotatable element, two oppositely acting driving pawls for selectively and alternatively engaging the teeth of said toothed member, means relatively rotatable with respect to said pawls about the axis of the cylinder for actuating said pawls, and means for rendering selectively either one or both of said pawls inoperative when desired.

20. A circular knitting machine comprising in combination a needle cylinder, needles therein, pattern control mechanism comprising a rotating drum additional to the needle cylinder and having surface projections, driving means for said drum which together with a selective control for said driving means comprises an annular toothed means operatively connected with the drum, two oppositely acting driving pawls for selectively and alternatively engaging the teeth of said toothed element, and means for rendering either one of said pawls inoperative at will, said means comprising a cam plate which is adjustable about the axis of the drum to diiierent angular positions and which has cam rises spaced apart around its periphery to engage by its adjustment selectively with one or the other of the pawls or with both pawls.

HENRY HAROLD HOLMES. 

